Limerick’s U-19’s got their first win of the season after beating previously unbeaten Cobh Ramblers last night.
Goals by Barry Cotter and Darragh Lowth gave the Blues a 2-0 win.
Limerick manager Tommy Barrett said, “Good first win of the season for us and well deserved as I thought our performances so far have been very good. The win was all the more pleasing as we had six lads unavailable through injury and unavailability.”
“We started with a very young team and with lads playing in unfamiliar positions. It’s great from a squad point of view that the lads have done so well against Cobh because it builds their confidence and creates healthy competition within the squad.”
“The first goal was a free kick delivery from Ger Barry that Barry Cotter scored with an excellent header from 12 yards out. The second was a great team goal, from an excellent passing sequence that resulted in left back Sean Madigan getting in behind the defence to cross for U-17 player Darragh Lowth to power home.”
“We created a lot more chances and Killiann Brouder had an effort ruled out for offside. Overall it was an excellent team performance.”
We spoke to Limerick’s captain Killian Brouder after the game, “Before the game we knew Cobh were getting results and we didn’t have the best start to the season, so we knew we had to be on top of our game to come out with a result.”
“We started off the game brightly by pressing them anytime they got on the ball. We got our first goal from Barry Cotter and we knew that if we did our jobs we would be going home with all three points because Tommy is always talking about concentration at the back.”
“Darragh Lowth got our second goal before half-time. In the second half Cobh came out and didn’t allow us to have time on the ball as they pressed us all over. We found balls down the channels that helped us but couldn’t find the net. We stayed compact and kept the ball to see the game through.”
On his own performance, Brouder said, “Yeah I didn’t play too bad. We got our first clean sheet of the season and I had a goal disallowed too so overall I was happy with my performance, but at the end of the day it’s a team game and all the boys were quality.”
On his time at Limerick, “Yeah I’m enjoying it here at Limerick, this is my fourth season of U-19’s football and I’ve been with the first team a good bit between the last two years. I’ve just got to work hard now and prove to Willie Boland or any new manager that comes in that I want to push on to be up there. It’s the reason I’m at Limerick, but yeah I’m enjoying it and who knows what the future holds.”
Cobh boss Declan Coleman said, “Yeah disappointed with the result. We made a few costly mistakes from two long balls and that led to the goals.”
“We actually created a number of clear cut chances and it’s probably the best we’ve played this season. Limerick played very well too though and it was a good game.”
“Ryan O’Regan and Gordon Walker were excellent for us and Ciaran Kearney came in early in the first half after Keane Buckley got injured and he had an impressive game too.”
We also caught up with Cobh’s defender Gordon Walker after the game. He said, “Going into the game today after two wins and a draw away from home, had us set nicely to pull away from other teams in the league with a win against Limerick tonight. However it just wasn’t meant to be.”
“We started quite slow and nervy but in saying that we should have been ahead through a well worked move of pressing that produced a mistake from their centre half early on. We also had a free kick that hit the bar.”
“We conceded two sloppy goals within five minutes of each other, but bar that Limerick didn’t threaten us.”
“We took over coming into half-time and created two great goal scoring chances where on another day they would have flown in.”
“We started the second half much sharper as we knew the target ahead, but with all the ball possession we created very little. Coming into the last few minutes we hit the bar again but the game ended 2-0 to Limerick, where I think it was fortunate overall considering the glorious chances we created.”
On his own performance Gordon said, “I was happy with my performance overall, but I’m disappointed in our side conceding two goals in quick succession as it rocked us really.”
“I’m enjoying my football at the moment and I can only thank Cobh and the management staff for backing my ability and my team mates who have been quality.”
“Today was a missed opportunity as I said to pull away from others. It’s it’s still early days in the league and we’re looking to go into the derby and bounce back with a positive result, to push on and nail down a quarter final spot come the end of the season. This loss could be the turning point of our season as we can now think and learn from it and push on together.”